Syria Protests Kill 32 on Friday

At least 32 people were killed in Syria’s worst protests yet Friday, as demonstrations spread throughout the country in calls for President Bashar al-Assad to resign. The most violent clashes took place in the city of Daraa, where at least 17 people were killed. Protests started in Daraa but moved steadily closer to the capital Damascus as the night wore on; one witness reported that he saw at least 4,000 protesting in Harasta. Demonstrators called for Assad to resign, despite the reforms he has made in the past few weeks, which include a cabinet reshuffle and the firing of two governors. Protesters said the reforms do not go far enough, as they are still not allowed to form political parties, political prisoners have not been released, and the 48-year-old emergency law is still in place.

Anti-government demonstrations have spread across Syria with the highest turnout yet in a month of unrest, despite a heavy crackdown by security forces in Deraa in which at least 22 people were reported killed.

Residents in Deraa said troops opened fire on thousands of protesters, and ambulances were prevented from reaching the scene.

A man who helped carry the dead and wounded to hospital said he had seen security forces shooting live ammunition. “My clothes are soaked with blood,” he told the Associated Press, asking to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.

On Friday night the death toll around the country was rising, with activists reporting more and more citizens taking to the streets.

Demonstrators are calling for President Bashar al-Assad, whose family has ruled Syria for nearly 40 years, to step down. Assad has made a series of concessions to quell the violence, including sacking his cabinet and firing two governors, but protesters say he has not gone far enough.

The unrest moved closer to the centre of the capital, Damascus, on Friday, where force was used against demonstrators in the Kafer Souseh and Harasta areas. A witness told the Guardian by phone that 4,000 people had gathered in Harasta, which has not seen demonstrations on previous Fridays. They carried olive branches and chanted “freedom”. “It was peaceful until security forces attacked and some shots were fired,” said the man, who asked for anonymity. “I saw six people shot, three of them with two bullets each.”

A witness in Kafer Souseh said protesters leaving al-Refai mosque after prayers were beaten by security forces using batons and stun guns. He said he saw several “badly beaten” bodies which looked “lifeless”.

“There were protests everywhere and from what we have seen the numbers were larger than last week,” said Razan Zeitouneh, a lawyer and human rights activist in Damascus who is monitoring the movement. Protests were also held in Douma – which was largely peaceful after a brutal crackdown last week – Homs, Hama, Jableh, Banias, Deir Ezzor, Qamischli and small villages and towns around Damascus and Douma. Phones and internet services were not working in Douma.

State media again disputed that security forces were responsible for the violence in Deraa, saying gunmen had fired on protesters and police. “This expresses clearly and openly that there are some people who wish evil on Syria,” a TV anchor said.

Thousands gathered in the Kurdish towns of Qamischli, Amouda and Derbasiyyeh hours after Assad announced he would grant nationality to 200,000 stateless Kurds. Kurdish activists said the reforms were inadequate. “We are part of the Syrian people and we also want the regime to lift the state of emergency and demand the enactment of new laws allowing for political parties,” said Massoud Akko, a Kurdish journalist and activist. “We need cultural and political rights, not just nationality.”

Other moves that failed to stamp out protests included sacking the governor of Homs, where people again took to the streets.

Assad has reached out to niche groups, including conservative Muslims, by reversing a ban on niqab-clad teachers in schools and closing Syria’s only casino.

But protesters complain that he has still not lifted a 48-year-old emergency law, released political prisoners or allowed political parties to form. Anger is also rising at the continued use of force which local human rights organisations say has killed at least 173 people. “I don’t see how this ends,” said Zeitouneh. “The authorities keep lying and giving promises that won’t satisfy people while the bloodshed continues to anger more people and encourage them on to the streets.”

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Just as President Barack Obama and Congressional leaders called for the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Libyan President Col. Muammar Qaddafi, so too must they call for the immediate resignation of Syrian President Bashar Assad. His deadly attacks on peaceful demonstrators must be condemned by the U.S., if we truly support democracy and the will of the people.
The Syrian government must immediately stop the killing of civilians, protect peaceful demonstrators, provide open access to medical care, allow free access to humanitarian organizations and international media and expedite serious political and democratic reforms that satisfy the aspirations of the Syrian people.Click here to find your Representative
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Call the White House: 202-456-1414
Call the U.S. State Department: 202-647-4000 and 202-647-6575
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Chairman of Foreign Relation Committee: 202-224-2742
U.N. Secretary Gen. Ban Ki-moon: 212-963-5012 or ecu@un.org
Syrian Embassy: 202-232-6316 or info@syrembassy.net

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If you have information about human rights violations in Syria, contact the International Criminal Court: 011-31(0)70-515-8515, 011-31-(0)70-515-8555 (f), or otp.informationdesk@icc-cp.int

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